Russian steering groups looking at the future of European relations have been set up in the country as it anticipates a win for the controversial Mrs Le Pen in the 2017 French presidential election which will be held in April and May.

Mrs Le Pen, 48, is surging in the polls in France as the country battles with the backdrop of terrorism and a recent outbreak of civil unrest sparked by allegations of horrific police brutality.

With candidate Francois Fillion having tanked in the polls over a cronyism row and Emmanuel Macron tainted by his involvement with Francois Hollande's failed government, Mrs Le Pen has become an unlikely favourite, making her France’s first female President.

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Le Pen has the backing of Putin it has been claimed

It will become messy for the EU

Kremlin advisor Fyodor Lukyanov

Now Russia is pinning its hopes on a Le Pen win after she indicated sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict should be lifted.

Now Russian politicians are backing the Front National candidate who borrowed almost £10m from Russia in 2014, amid claims Putin is offering unwavering support.

Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, which advises the Kremlin told Politico: “Le Pen’s philosophy and anti-globalist vision of the world is pretty similar to many people here.